Somaliland Offers US Red Sea Base in Return for Recognition

Somaliland has proposed leasing its strategic Berbera port and airstrip to the United States in exchange for official recognition of its independence by former President Donald Trump, according to media reports on Saturday.

The New York Times revealed that Somaliland’s government seeks to secure statehood status by offering the US critical military and logistical access to the Gulf of Aden. The Berbera airstrip, originally constructed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s, is the longest in Africa, stretching over 2.5 miles.

This move comes amid growing competition over strategic Red Sea access. In March, *Semafor* reported that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had also offered the US control of ports and airbases in Somaliland and Puntland to discourage Washington from recognizing the breakaway regions.

The Associated Press reported in mid-March that the US had initiated discussions with Somaliland to assess potential terms for recognition. Washington is reportedly considering a variety of geopolitical options, including resettlement solutions for Palestinians from Gaza.

Somalia has struggled to function as a unified state since the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991. The international community continues to recognize the federal government in Mogadishu, which maintains limited control over parts of the country.